In this episode of The Dead Divas Lounge we celebrate the life and legacy of the iconic George Michael. Our special guest is Ammar Kalia, a seasoned journalist, author, and broadcaster with a wealth of experience across the media and music landscape. Ammar is currently Global music critic and a features writer for The Guardian as well as writing for some of the most prestigious music publications including Crack, Downbeat, Apple Music, Hyphen, Jazzwise, Composer Magazine, The Economist, Mixmag, Vinyl Factory, WePresent, The British Library, BBC Proms, Huck, Dazed, Beat, M Magazine, The Times Literary Supplement, Clash, TANK and The Quietus. Ammar is also the author of the poetry collection, Kintsugi: Jazz Poems for Musicians Alive and Dead and the stunning new novel 'A Person Is A Prayer' published by Old Castle Books. In this episode, we explore the many facets of George Michael's life—from his early days as one-half of Wham! to his evolution into a solo superstar with hits like "Faith" and "Careless Whisper."We dive into George Michael’s battles with fame, his struggles with personal identity, and his courageous journey as an LGBTQ+ icon who used his platform to advocate for equality and charity. Together, we reflect on his profound influence on pop culture, his complex personal life, and the timeless music that continues to resonate with fans around the world. Don’t miss this in-depth conversation about one of pop music’s most enduring and beloved figures.We also discuss the broader themes within Ammar's new novel, 'A Person Is A Prayer', of death, legacy, strong women and the men who hold them dear. Chapters00:00 Introduction and Clapping06:43 Introducing Ammar Kalia and His Work12:52 Reflections on Death, Legacy, and Art19:52 Blending Autobiography and Fiction in Writing28:56 Choosing George Michael as the Diva of Focus32:52 The Emotional Power of George Michael's Music33:12 The Art of Making Covers Your Own37:13 Emotions and Moods in George Michael's Music41:07 Challenging the Perception of Divas44:23 The Lasting Impact of George Michael's Music53:46 The Timelessness of George Michael's Songs01:18:56 George Michael: An Unapologetic Gay Artist01:19:26 The Comparison: George Michael vs. Freddie Mercury01:20:08 Masculinity and Sexuality: George Michael's Authenticity01:21:08 The Surprise of George Michael's Coming Out01:22:07 Societal Expectations and the Idea of a National Treasure01:22:29 George Michael's Unapologetic Authenticity01:23:25 The Changing Perception of Messiness and Sexuality01:24:03 Surprising Differences in Monthly Listeners01:26:46 George Michael's Memorable Quotes01:39:05 Ammar Kalia's Upcoming ProjectsFind out more about Ammar Kalia here: ammarkalia.comOrder 'A Person Is A Prayer' here: https://bit.ly/3Zzypee / Amazon: https://bit.ly/3Vhe6j5 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.